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How to Reheat Chicken Tenders

This blog post will show you how to ensure the tenderness and crispiness of your chicken tenders when you reheat them or any other kind of meat for that matter.

There are a lot of ways to achieve this type of consistency and quality, but I believe the best way is through reheating in the air fryer.

We also cover how the reheat your chicken tenders in a microwave, oven, and stove. You can follow these reheating methods for all kinds of leftover chicken.

Some people call tenders, chicken strips, and chicken pieces. These strategies also work for grilled chicken tenders.

Plate with crispy chicken tenders and a gravy boat with honey mustard dressing.

How to reheat fried chicken Tenders 4 ways

Reheating chicken tenders is a common practice that many people do in order to make sure they eat the leftovers.

Maybe you got your favorite restaurant’s tenders or you made them from scratch. These are my favorite reheating options below.

How to reheat chicken tenders in the Air fryer

An air fryer is a machine for cooking food with hot air instead of in oil. It uses hot, circulating air to cook foods quickly by browning them on all sides.

The term “air fryer” is also used to refer to any countertop appliance with similar capabilities.

I really feel that the air fryer is the best reheating method. Chicken tenders in an air fryer will give a crispy chicken and not soggy like in a microwave.

Simply place them in the air fryer basket and cook them at 400°F for 5-7 minutes or until they are heated through.

If you enjoy this reheating method then check out my post on how to reheat crab rangoons.

How to reheat chicken tender in the Oven

Chicken tenders are great reheated in an oven. Reheating fried chicken is best in the oven to revive that crispy texture.

The hot air of the oven causes moisture to be forced out of your fried chicken, which results in better-tasting chicken and allows for them to be crispy as well.

Using convection in your oven is optimal because it uses a fan that improves air circulation around the food.

Place the chicken tenders on a baking sheet and cook at 350° Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes. Serve with honey mustard, ranch, ketchup, or BBQ sauce.

After they cooked you need to know if you can leave the cooked chicken to sit out.

How to reheat chicken tenders in the Microwave

A microwave is a convenient way to reheat food in the comfort of your own home.

It is important, to remember that microwaving foods will not always give them the same texture and flavor as when they are freshly fried or made on the stovetop or oven.

The microwave can make fried food soggy and unpleasant. This method is best when you are in a hurry.

Microwaves already come with a reheat option which is sufficient to heat food without overcooking it. I suggest using this option. Make sure to use a microwave-safe plate or dish.

If not put the chicken strips in on high heat for 30-60 seconds and then check them to see if they need to be heated more.

how to reheat chicken tenders in a Skillet or Frying Pan

A practical method for reheating chicken tenders is to place the hot pan over a burner on your stove.

When using a skillet or frying pan, it is important to not let the oil get too hot as this can lead to an oil fire.

Preheat a frying pan or skillet until it is warm with my hand hovering 1/2 inch over the center. Then go ahead and add a light coating of olive oil.

Let the oil get hot and then add your chicken tenders. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. Remember we are trying to just warm them through, the goal is not to cook them again.

Keep them moving around the pan to prevent them from burning and to help them reheat evenly.

How to reheat frozen chicken tenders

To reheat frozen chicken tenders, place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-45 minutes. This is by far the quickest and easiest way.

You can also reheat frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer for that extra crispiness. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 10-15 minutes or until they are reheated.

This is much better than using a microwave, they tend to make them soggy because they have been breaded or fried.

For tips on achieving that perfect crispy texture for your side dish, check out our guide on how to reheat French fries.

FAQ

Difference between chicken fingers, chicken tenders, and strips

Chicken fingers are breaded and fried chicken. Chicken tenders are breaded and not fried, but they do have some fat on the outside. Chicken strips are any strip of breast meat. Strips are breaded or not, but they are not fried.

How do you reheat chicken tenders so they’re crispy?

The best way to reheat chicken tenders is in an air fryer. The low temperature and the ability to crisp foods make it a perfect option for reheating chicken tenders. If you don’t have an air fryer then the 2nd best way is with an oven.

Plate with crispy chicken tenders and a gravy boat with honey mustard dressing.

How To Reheat Chicken Tenders (4 Ways)

Bob
4 Simple ways to reheat chicken tenders and the step-by-step instructions for each method including the oven, air fryer, stovetop, and microwave.
5 from 1 vote
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Calories 228 kcal

Equipment

  • Airfryer
  • Oven
  • Microwave
  • Stovetop

Ingredients
  

  • Leftover chicken tenders

Instructions
 

Air fryer Method

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F
  • Place leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer basket spaced out so that air can get around each one.
  • Allow them to cook for 5-7 minutes or until they are reheated.

Oven Method

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Lay chicken tenders out on a baking sheet
  • Cook for 10-12 minutes. You may want to flip them over halfway through.

Microwave Method

  • Place chicken tenders spaced out onto a microwave-safe dish.
  • Cook on high heat for 30-40 seconds at a time.
  • Flip them over and cook again for 30-40 seconds. Repeat until heated.

Stovetop Method

  • Preheat your frying pan on medium to low heat
  • Once the pan is heated, add a tablespoon of olive oil and allow it to heat for about 30 seconds
  • Add your chicken tenders to the hot oil and let cook for 3-5 minutes moving and flipping them until they are reheated.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 228kcalProtein: 42gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 740mgVitamin A: 60IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
Keyword How to reheat chicken tenders, How to reheat leftover chicken tenders, reheat chicken tender on the stove, reheat chicken tenders in the airfryer, reheat chicken tenders in the mircowave, reheat chicken tenders in the oven
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